Access to services, particularly hospitals

Access issues relate almost entirely to the location of the hospital, focusing on public transport services and car parking. The concerns that have been raised include:

• The fact that many people have to make a second bus trip from the city centre to the Edith Cavell Hospital.



• Poor bus services during the evenings and weekends make it difficult for people to visit friends and relatives in hospital.



• The bus stop at the Edith Cavell Hospital is located some distance from the main entrance to the building.



• The very severe lack of car parking spaces at Peterborough District Hospital and parking problems at the Edith Cavell Hospital.



• The long walking distance from the car parks to the buildings.



• The lack of adequate numbers of disabled parking spaces at both hospitals.

We recognise public transport services to the Edith Cavell Hospital are not ideal and transferring all the hospital services to this site will inconvenience people who rely on bus services. We also understand the frustration caused by the very limited car parking at Peterborough District Hospital. Our staff also find this situation difficult, particularly those who use their vehicles as part of their normal daily duties.

Accessibility is one of the factors we must take into account when planning health services. Therefore part of the Health Investment Plan aims to reduce the need for the public to travel to hospital for all their care and treatment.

By moving many services out into the community, either in GP practices or the new local Health Care Centres, we can make services more accessible and increase choice as to where patients wish to go for their appointment. Only patients that need the support and high-tech facilities of a hospital would need to travel to the Edith Cavell Hospital site.

When patients need to go to hospital we will be streamlining the service to reduce the number of times you have to visit. By arranging for all the tests and x-rays you might need to take place at the same time as your outpatient appointment, we will be able to complete the diagnosis and discuss with you the treatment options all on the same day. In some instances we will be able to carry out the treatment as well, particularly if it is a simple day surgery procedure. This new way of working is already in operation elsewhere in the NHS and has been introduced locally for patients requiring cataract removal.

Overall, patients will have to travel less to access health services, and when they do have to visit the hospital will need less frequent visits.

When deciding which hospital site is the best we must consider a wide range of issues, including:

• Which site will provide the best opportunity to design a hospital that is the most effective to run, provides maximum clinical safety for patients and the most appropriate relationships between individual departments? · 



• Which site provides the fastest access for seriously ill patients that are being transported by emergency ambulance or the air ambulance service?



• Which site will allow easy expansion of services and room for future growth?



• Which site is most accessible for the public?



• Which site will provide a hospital that has the lower running costs in the long-term?

Clearly, the safety of patients and quality of clinical services must take priority over other factors. Local doctors, nurses and other health professionals all consider the Edith Cavell Hospital site provides the best opportunity to build a new hospital that will be best for patients and provide the safest and highest quality care. That is why it is our preferred option.

Having made that choice we still recognise the need to solve the problem of public transport access to the Edith Cavell Hospital. Therefore, the Peterborough Hospitals Trust has made a commitment to introduce a shuttle service (the Health Hopper) running from the Queensgate bus station and Peterborough train station direct to the Edith Cavell Hospital site.

This direct service will reduce the current fastest bus journey time by 70% and significantly reduce the access problem. We will also ensure the bus stops right outside the main entrance of the hospital and there is easily accessible information on bus services.

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